488 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



more food than one that is not laying. A high egg-producer 

 consumes more feed than a poor egg-producer. In order to 

 consume and digest this feed the intestines of a laying hen 

 are larger than of one not laying. When laying, the ovary 

 and oviduct are greatly enlarged and require more room. 

 To provide this extra space, the body increases in capacity 

 or depth. This is noticeable by the increase in the distance 

 from the pin bones to the end of the keel bone. The increase 

 in size of the body cavity is secured by the dropping down 

 of the keel bone. By measuring the distance from the pin 

 bones to the keel bone an idea can be formed as to whether 

 the hen is in laying condition or not. No definite measure- 

 ment can be given that will fit all individual hens. As a 

 general rule, a hen that measures less than three fingers wide 

 of body depth, is not laying or is a poor layer, because such 

 a hen lacks the capacity for handling a large amount of feed. 

 The hen that shows the greater body depth may, as a rule, 

 be selected as a good layer if in addition to this she exhibits 

 the other marks of egg production. 



THE MOLT INFLUENCE ON EGG PRODUCTION 

 Most hens stop laying when they begin to molt. Since 

 the molting period covers several weeks, it is advisable to 

 sell the hens that molt early. It is a fact no longer disputed, 

 that a hen, in order to make a high yearly record, must be 

 a consistent layer. The early molting hen is not a consist- 

 ent layer. She takes all the fall months as a vacation for 

 changing her plumage. The consistent layer molts late and 

 grows her new plumage rapidly. The time of the molt is 

 the best indication of the last year's performance. The 

 molting period may be a guide in culling all breeds and 

 varieties, but is of special importance with such breeds as 

 the Orpingtons and Minorcas that do not have the yellow 

 skin. The hen that molts early, under normal conditions, 

 will not lay as many winter eggs as the one that molts late. 

 Neither will the early-molting fowl begin egg production 



